I can tell he’s mulling all the information over as he flips through the information in front of him.
“I know that it’s going to be a commitment, and one that we have no guarantee will take off. But, small batch breweries are killing it these days, and I think we can tap into that. With us just having hired some more employees that are all well-versed in handling the bar, I think this is the perfect time for me to be able to swing my focus to this part of the business. I wouldn’t completely step back from being behind the bar, but I think that if I’m focusing on the brewing side of things, that most of my time will be spent there and not here.”
“I get that, and I agree that our staff can handle things,” he says, still flipping back and forth between pages. He’s got his super-serious, furrowed brows, look on his face, and I wait in anticipation for his answer. “I think you’re on to something with this and these numbers look good. We’ve got enough in our savings to cover the startup costs, still leaving us a nice cushion for other business expenses. We’ve also got the business line of credit should anything go wrong.”
“So, you’re on board?” I ask, trying to keep my excitement tamped down.
“Yes. Let’s do it,” he says, a huge smile on his face.
“I’m happy to hear you say that,” I tell him honestly.
“I see the positives, and you’ve obviously done your homework and know what you need to do to make this as successful as you can. One thing I’d be interested in from the beginning, is seeing if the building owner would be interested in just selling from the start. We’d have to get a loan for that, but if we’re going to be renovating to fit our needs, I’d rather be doing that to a building we own.”
“I can find out for sure,” I tell him, seeing where he’s coming from.
“Let’s do that, find out if we can just purchase now, and if so, start the negotiations on the sale. I can call up our banking contact and get the ball rolling on the possibility of a new business loan for the purchase.”
“I’ll get on it today, and hopefully have an answer for you by this afternoon. Thanks, brother. I think this is going to be something special.”
We part ways and I call up our realtor to have him start looking into the purchase option on the building. Within hours, he’s got answers for us and an offer written up for Kaiden and I to look over before he submits it.
“Hey, baby,” I call out as I come into the house, finding Ashley on the couch.
“How was your day?” she asks, a smile filling her lips, like she’s excited about something.
“It was great. We’re moving forward with the brewery. Kaiden loved my presentation and we’ve submitted an offer to buy the building rather than rent it.”
“That’s amazing! I’m happy that it’s all working out for you.”
“Me too, babe. How was your day?” I ask, dropping down to give her a kiss.
“Good, work went well. I stopped at Mom’s place after and packed up the rest of my things and brought them here.”
“About damn time,” I tease her. “What did you want to do for dinner?”
“I’ve got some steaks and veggies all ready to go, just waiting on you to fire up the grill,” she says sweetly.
“Perfect. What would I do without you?” I muse before I kiss her once again.
She laughs. “You’d be eating bar food.”
“Touché,” I say, laughing with her. “What do you say we get that dinner going. I’m starving.”
“Sounds good to me.” She stands up and pulls me with her into the kitchen. We grab the food, then head out onto the deck.
“So, I was thinking,” she says, pausing to look over at me as I place the food onto the hot grill, “what would you think about getting a dog?”
“Ah, I guess I don’t really have a thought about it. I’ve never gotten one because my hours weren’t the greatest to have one. But I’m not against the idea.”
“Yay! I’ve always wanted one, but we could never have one growing up because of living in rentals and, to be blunt, we just couldn’t afford to have one. But now, living here with you makes me want one so bad.”
“Do you know what kind you want?” I ask, dropping into a chair next to her.
“Not really. I figured adopting one from a shelter would be best. So, whatever one we like the best.”
“Sounds reasonable to me. Do you want to go check it out this weekend? Maybe after I get up on Saturday, we can go?”
“Really?!” she asks excitedly, then smiles at me. “That’s all it will take to convince you?”
“Babe”—I reach out to run a fingertip down her cheek—“if a dog will make you happy, then I’ll gladly adopt ten. Well, many not ten at once, but you know what I mean,” I say on a laugh as her eyes widen.
“Where did you come from, Nicholas David Watkins?” she asks before leaning forward and pressing her lips to mine.
“Been here, just waiting on you to sweep into my life.”
14
Ashley
Six Months Later
“Settle down,” I say to Max, our mutt of a dog that has been the perfect mix to our little household. It took us about a month to find him after that first day I brought up the idea of Nick and I adopting a dog. Once he’s calmed down and sitting nice, I place his treat on the ground in front of him, before giving him the signal he can pick it up and take it to his bed in the living room.
“Hey.” Nick walks up behind me and wraps his arms around me, pulling my back to his front. “Are you almost ready?” he asks, kissing my cheek.
“Yep, just need to slip on my shoes and we can get out of here.” I turn in his arms and press my lips to his. “I’m so damn proud of you,” I tell him before he releases his hold on me. “You followed your dream, and look where it’s gotten you.”
Tonight, they’ll be tapping the first keg from the new brewery. We’ve all taste-tested things the past week or so, and even without being a big beer drinker, Nick has done an excellent job with everything. Since the day they closed on the building, he’s been making the brewery his work priority, and he’s put in a ton of blood and sweat over the past six months, as they brought this adventure to life and hopefully a successful addition to the bar.
“Thanks,” he says sheepishly. He’s never one for much praise, but he damn sure deserves it tonight.
The drive over to the bar is quiet as Nick is, I’m sure, inside his own head, worried tonight is going to be a bust. I’m convinced it isn’t going to be. The bar has had a bunch of local press, and a few of the news stations, as well as the newspaper, have all done segments on the brewery. Plus, Kaiden put together a bunch of promotion, advertising the launch of the new beer tonight.
We pull into the parking lot, Nick parking his truck in his usual spot out back. He brought the kegs over a few days ago and made sure everything was set up and working properly, so they don’t run into any snags tonight.
“Hey,” I say once we’re out of the truck, before we reach the back door. “Just take a deep breath. Things are going to be perfect. You’ve done a phenomenal job and people are going to love it; I can just feel it.”
“Thanks,” he says, taking a deep breath before he brings his forehead to mine. His arms go around my body, pulling me into him, and I feel him relax as he does so. “We’ve just got so much riding on this and tonight.”
“I know, and I’m sure it’s a scary thought, but it’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon. You’re not going to make everything back tonight, but you can damn well sell a few kegs’ worth of beer,” I jokingly tell him.
“That’s the plan,” he says, a small smile filling his lips. He squeezes me lightly. “Thanks for being here tonight with me.”
“Nowhere else I’d rather be,” I tell him, before I push up slightly on my toes and press our lips together. “Love you,” I whisper against them before pulling away.
“Love you, too. Now, let’s get inside and sell some beer,” he says, pulling me along behind him
as we enter the back door.
The bar is already open, but the plan is to not tap the keg until six o’clock, when they make a big deal about it. I follow Nick upstairs and into the office, where we find both Kaiden and Katie.
“Hey, guys,” Katie greets us.
“Hey,” Nick tells her, wrapping an arm around her shoulder in a half-hug before she pulls away and gives me a full hug.
“Ready for tonight?” she asks him as she returns to her seat on Kaiden’s lap.
“As ready as I’m going to get,” he says, pulling his baseball hat off his head and running his hands through his hair. The guys ordered some apparel with the bar’s logo on it recently, and that included some new hats, which Nick has been attached to since they arrived.
“Quit your worrying,” Kaiden tells him. “Everything is going to go great tonight. We’ve done our research, advertised, had great press about everything, and the crowd has already started to form downstairs, waiting for us to tap that first keg.”
“I know,” Nick says, blowing out a huge breath. “We’ve just got a lot riding on how things go tonight. I don’t want the venture to fail. We’ve both got futures to look towards, and this could set us back if it fails.”
“Nick,” Kaiden says, a sternness in his voice. “We made this decision together. Not just you, but together. And it’s going to work out just fine.” A shit-eating grin appears on his face. “I haven’t told you this yet, but I got a call this morning. We’ve made the finals for an award, on the sample you submitted to that contest.”
“You’re shitting me?” Nick exclaims.
“No, I’m as serious as a heart attack. I wouldn’t joke about something like that. Nick, you’ve done amazing things with this and we’re going to keep doing great things. Believe it. Good things are headed your direction. With the press an accolade like that will bring to us, as such a new brewery, we’ll definitely be going places. Even just making it to the finals is an accomplishment in itself. I’m proud of you. I’m proud to have you as my brother. I’m proud to have you as my business partner. There isn’t anyone else that I’d rather be in this adventure with than you. Well, maybe these two crazy women, who seem to think that we’re worth keeping around, for some unknown reason.”
“Thanks, brother. The feeling is mutual,” Nick tells him, accepting a handshake and hug from Kaiden.
“Shall we head downstairs?” Katie suggests. “It’s almost time.”
“After you,” Kaiden tells her, and we all file out. Downstairs, the guys take their positions behind the bar, and I join Barb, Donald, and my mom, who have a table already.
“Thank you all for coming out tonight,” Nick says to the crowd, who has quieted down to listen to him speak. “We’ve waited a long time to bring this to market, but we hope you guys enjoy it. And with that, who wants a pint of beer?”
He pulls the tap and fills the first beer. The crowd starts talking all at once, bringing the volume in here up very quickly. I sit back and watch as Nick fills glass after glass, for what feels like hours. They run out of the first keg and quickly get the second one tapped and flowing as the patrons all enjoy the two options they have available for tonight.
“I’m so proud of my boys,” Barb tells me, after sampling both beers Kaiden brought over to our table.
“Me too. They work so well together. You did good raising them. I can only hope to be the same way when the time comes,” I tell her honestly. With my bad luck with men, kids were never on my radar, but as time goes by and Nick continues to show me what a real man is, my thoughts have been slowly changing and I can see us with kids down the road. Like, a few years down the road.
“Hey, sorry we’re late,” Tiffany says, sitting down on the empty stool next to me. Colton stands behind her, his hands resting on her shoulders.
“You made it!” I say, wrapping her in a hug. We’ve not seen much of each other between our busy work schedules, and she and Colton enjoying their newlywed life.
“Yeah, sorry. I wasn’t feeling well today, but finally pulled myself out of bed so we could make it down here. We wanted to celebrate with you guys. How’s it been?” she asks, looking around.
“Great! They’ve already had to tap the second kegs on both beers.”
“Sounds like I’d better go get one, then, if I want to try them before they run out,” Colton says, then turns to Tiffany. “You want anything?”
“Just a ginger ale,” she says, smiling at him over her shoulder. He leans in and places a chaste kiss on her lips.
“Be right back,” he says against them before heading over to the bar.
“Sorry you’re not feeling well. Germs from school?” I ask.
“Nope.” A smile fills her lips. “We’re pregnant,” she tells me quietly.
“Oh my god! Congratulations!” I tell my best friend as I pull her into a hug. “How far along are you? When are you due?”
“I’m about eight weeks, which would put me due in late August.”
“Ahh! I’m so excited for you guys. Is Colton excited?” I ask.
“Yes, he’s been so sweet these past few weeks while I deal with morning sickness. And I’m so damn tired. I get home from school every day and collapse on the couch. He’s been doing everything so I can rest. Cooking, cleaning, bringing me things to keep my stomach happy.”
“Aww, what a sweetheart. We already knew he was one, but I’m glad he’s stepping up like that.”
“Me too. I don’t know what I’d do if he wasn’t so helpful,” she says as he returns to the table.
“I hear congratulations are in order,” I say, pulling him into a hug.
“Thanks,” he says sheepishly.
“How’s it going?” Nick asks everyone at our table a moment later, as he slides up behind me and places a platter down in the center, filled with their appetizer samples. “Thought y’all could use some food to soak up the beer.”
“This is great, man,” Colton tells him, holding up the beer he’s tried first.
“Thanks, that’s what I like to hear,” Nick says, slapping Colton on the back.
“Looks like I’m not the only one who thinks that,” he replies, looking around the packed bar.
“Even better.” Nick laughs. “I just wanted to bring over the food and make sure everyone was doing okay, but I’d better get back behind the bar.” He leans in and presses his lips to mine. “Love you,” he says against them before walking back to the bar.
Nick assumes his place at the tap, filling glass after glass as the orders continue to roll in all night.
Nick
I’ve filled more orders tonight than I can count, and I couldn’t ask for more. The turnout tonight, the feedback on the product, just the upbeat atmosphere has me feeling like this is an out-of-body experience. I could have only dreamed things would have gone this smoothly. Not one person has said they didn’t like the beer we’ve launched.
Even with filling glass after glass of the two beers—a light blonde I named The Ash and a slightly darker Raspberry Wheat named The Kat. Both beers were inspired and named for the two women in Kaiden’s and my lives. Kaiden was on board with my idea from the moment I brought it up to him, and the girls were quite honored when we told them about it a few weeks ago, when we had our first samples of the batches.
I watch Ashley’s table from my peripheral vision most of the night. I watch as she visits with her mom and my parents, as well as with Tiffany and Colton. I know she doesn’t get to spend as much time with Tiffany as she wishes she could, so I’m glad to see they came out tonight and that the girls are getting some time together.
“Hey, man,” I hear a familiar voice call out, and I look over to see my friend, Ethan, and his wife, Cam. “Can I get one of each?”
“Nice to see you guys, thanks for coming out tonight,” I say as I slide a pint of each beer across the counter to him and Cam. “How are you guys doing?”
“Great. Looks like a good turnout tonight,” Cam says as she picks up the pint
and takes a drink. I closely watch for her reaction to it, as I’ve done with many patrons tonight. But when it comes to my friends, I truly want to know what they think.
“It’s been a great one,” I finally remember to respond.
“Holy moly,” Cam says, as she swaps pint glasses with Ethan. “You have to try this one, it’s fantastic. The raspberry flavor is really good.” I smile at her assessment of the beer and watch as they each sample the opposite drink. “Nick!” Cam smacks the bar top, grabbing my full attention. “These are fantastic! I think I’ve found my new favorite beer with that raspberry one.”
“I’m glad to hear that. We’ll be offering take-home growlers soon,” I tell her. “We had a slight delay in getting our bottles in, as the manufacturer had a defect in our first shipment and had to remake all of them.”
“That sucks.” Ethan sets the glass back on the counter, sliding it back over to me. “I’ll take another one of those,” he tells me. “How’s everything else going? I haven’t seen much of you lately.”
“Been busy over at the other building with the brewing side of things. But life’s been great. How’s Ben?”
“Growing every day. I can’t believe he’s walking and talking already. He gets into everything, but the best thing to happen to us,” Ethan says, gushing over his son.
“That’s great, man. Glad to hear things are going so well. We’ll have to get together soon.”
“Let’s do that,” he agrees.
“Ashley is over there.” I point to her table. “If you guys want a place to hang out for a while.”
“Thanks, I think we’re going to finish these up and head out. Have to go get the boy and head home.”
“No problem, thanks for stopping in tonight,” I tell him, reaching over the bar to shake his hand.
“Our pleasure. And these are excellent. I look forward to whatever else you come up with.”
“Hopefully some more hit flavors. The plan is to have these as two of our signature brews that are available all the time, then add in one other flavor that will be kept to one-batch runs at a time. We had a third set of tanks installed so we can be running a third flavor at the same time.”
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